The demand for Kurt Geiger's sky high heels defies the midi-heel trend

Olivia Palermo steps out in a pair of Fashionistas by Kurt Geiger Photo: REX

In fashion circles, this was supposed to be the year of the 'midi-heel'. Billed as the return of the sensible (and most of all, comfortable) shoe which would make one's mother proud, the skyscraper heel was set to be eclipsed by its less vertiginous rival.

Victoria Beckham, (who famously wore a pair of canvas, heeled wedges to play baseball) might have followed suit and ditched her bunion-inducing platforms, but along comes high street shoe giant Kurt Geiger, announcing that sales of its highest heeled shoes have quadrupled this year.

The people have voted with their feet: few want a prim pair LK Bennett kitten heels, and instead lust after a pair of red, killer stilettos, reported to be one of Kurt Geiger's bestselling styles. The fact that such a pair costs upwards of £150 suggests that the investment counts just as much as the impact.

Influential popstars such as Rihanna (who has been spotted in Kurt Geiger) and Cheryl Cole have raised the bar by wearing the most outrageous high heels to perform otherwise ordinary tasks such as catching a flight, or checking out of a hotel. And one can't forget Lady Gaga - who takes the meaning of 'high maintenance' to extremes - and wouldn't be pictured dead without remarkable shoes adorning her feet.

Those championing the sensible heel might include revered fashionistas such as Alexa Chung and US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, but with the Christmas party season in sniffing distance, it looks like the cash registers at Kurt Geiger will be ringing with the sound of stilettos.